Fertility Histories, Social Capital, and Physiological Health: Unravelling the Long-Term Health Impacts of Reproductive Choices
Worldwide, population aging, coupled with declining fertility rates, poses significant social and economic challenges. In the UK, the proportion of people aged 65 and over is projected to increase by 35% by 2040, while the younger population is expected to decline. This demographic shift reduces the size of family units and weakens support networks for the elderly, diminishing social capital. With healthcare spending per person rising sharply after age 50, coinciding with the end of the reproductive span, understanding the long-term health impacts of reproductive choices becomes crucial.
Leveraging the rich, longitudinal data from Understanding Society, which uniquely integrates biological markers, demographic, and social variables, this project investigates the association between fertility histories, social capital, and physiological “wear and tear” among adults at the end of their reproductive lifespan. The detailed assessment of fertility histories for both men and women allows for a nuanced examination of reproductive choices, such as age at first and last birth and the spacing between births. Including both male and female participants is particularly noteworthy, given that most research in this area traditionally focuses on women. Moreover, the project benefits from the use of objective biomarker measures, providing a more accurate and unbiased evaluation of participants’ health compared to self-reported data.
The findings of this project could inform theory and influence policies aimed at improving health outcomes by addressing social factors like fertility history and social capital, ultimately contributing to more effective public health strategies across different generations.
Read more about Sînziana-Ioana’s work on her Google Scholar page.
